D.C. City Council to Consider Bill to Provide City Shoppers with Information on Eggs from Caged Hens

WASHINGTON -Washington, D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham (Ward 1) has introduced a bill to protect consumers who are concerned about animal welfare.  The Increased Consumer Information for the Sale of Eggs Act of 2006 would require grocers in the city to disclose which eggs have come from hens confined in tiny wire cages, one of the most inhumane factory farming practices. The Humane Society of the United States urges the D.C. Council to pass the proposed measure, the first of its kind in the United States.

Councilmember Graham stated, "This bill helps protect consumers who want to prevent animal cruelty. Many consumers believe that confining birds in cages so small they can't even spread their wings is cruel and inhumane, and those consumers should not be misled into making purchases that support such animal abuse."

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, which Councilmember Graham chairs.

"Shoppers are demanding more humane treatment of farm animals, and Councilmember Graham's bill will make it easier for consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions," states Paul Shapiro, Director of the Factory Farming Campaign for The HSUS. "The HSUS commends Councilmember Graham for taking the lead on this issue to advance both consumer protection and animal welfare."

Egg-laying hens confined in "battery cages" have so little space that they are unable even to spread their wings or walk, let alone engage in other important natural behaviors such as nesting, foraging, perching and dust bathing. Each caged hen has less floor space than a single letter-sized sheet of paper on which to live, leading to extremely high levels of stress and frustration.

The fact that most caged laying hens can't even spread their wings inside battery cages has played a significant role in the growing trend of consumers and supermarket chains moving away from any association with eggs from caged birds. In Washington, D.C. alone, schools such as American University, Georgetown University, Georgetown Law School, George Washington University, and Gallaudet University have eliminated or greatly reduced their use of caged eggs, joining nearly 100 other schools across the country. And D.C.-area stores including Whole Foods and Trader Joe's and companies including AOL have ended or decreased their use of cage eggs, joining a number of other companies across the country.

The bill text is available at: http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/images/00001/20060920160536.pdf

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9.8 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.